It's no secret the Blues are searching for help at the center position. We've discussed whether the Blues should acquire Ottawa's Jason Spezza or sign Colorado's soon-to-be free agent, Paul Stastny. Not to mention the trade rumors has center's fueling the market. Between Spezza, Stastny, Toronto's Nazem Kadri, Vancouver's Ryan Kesler, and San Jose's Joe Thornton.
Well now another name has entered the fray, and that is Brad Richards.
Three years ago, Richards signed a lucrative, nine year, 60 million dollar contract with the New York Rangers. Now he's hitting free agency again after being bought out by the Rangers yesterday.
Richards was a scapegoat for the Rangers right from the start. He was coming off back-to-back point-per-game seasons with the Dallas Stars and was joining an all-star cast on broadway. When he posted just 66 points in 82 games in his first season, many fans targeted him for his lack of production. Mainly because anyone making 12 million in a year should be posting more than 66 points.
Richards did manage to score 15 points in 20 playoff games in his first season and the heat that surrounded him cooled off. Until the next season of course.
In the lockout shortened season, Richards played in 46 games, scoring 11 goals and 34 points. Again, making 12 million per year, the fans wanted more. After a very disappointed playoffs, in which Richards scored one goal in ten games, many called for him to be bought out.
Glenn Sather, Rangers general manager, however, decided to give him one more season. His salary dropped to nine million, but his production over wasn't enough for Ranger fans. 20 goals and 31 assists in 82 games for the Rangers wasn't quite what the fans were looking for. It got even worse in this years playoffs.
In 25 playoff games this past season, Richards saw himself toiling away on the fourth line with Derek Dorsett and Brian Boyle. Despite scoring five goals, and 12 points, he now finds himself unemployed for the time being.
Now why would a guy who just got bought out by the Rangers, be a good fit for the Blues? I'm glad you asked.
Now assuming the Blues can land one of the bigger name targets this off-season, adding Brad Richards could be a very interesting concept idea.
Imagine having your top three centers being a David Backes, Nazem Kadri, and Brad Richards. Not to bad considering the Blues were running with Backes, Vladimir Sobotka, and Steve Ott as the top three centers this past post-season. We saw how well that worked out.
Now of course you could replace Kadri with Spezza or Stastny, but the point remains the same. If you could add a 60-70 point center for your top line, and a 50 point center for your third line, would you do it?
With the draft less than a week away, will the Blues have a new top center by this time next week? Only time will tell.